The best gifts are the ones that represent, in some way, something of the giver and something of a receiver. So, each Christmas, I find some way to give my kids a personalized gift, something that'll make a memory, something that represents something of me and of them The post SILY 671- Eraser Boogers appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertai…

Join us this week as we talk about “Everything in Its Right Place” - finally an episode centered on Lincoln! We discuss how the theme of the episode is centered around Lincoln searching for belonging, a struggle that he has been experiencing for several episodes now. The post S4E17 Everything in Its Right Place appeared first on Golden Spiral Media…

Was Jesus actually born in December? If not, why do we celebrate it then and not his actual birthday? Does celebrating it in December along with the traditional things that are a part of it have pagan roots? If so, does that mean Christians are wrong for celebrating Christmas? Does having a Christmas tree and other items as part of our celebration …

What happens when ordinary objects become instruments of our own destruction? Both "The Fever" and "A Most Unusual Camera" explore how material possessions can transform from sources of pleasure into agents of doom, revealing the dark side of human greed and obsession. The post Risky Gambles appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podc…

The story I told in episode 19 was based on two different visits to Chicago. I was the one with the shirt who did nothing. My 12 year old daughter, Addi, was the one who made the care package. That 12 year old girl will be 23 in less than a month, and she is not the same person she once was. The post SILY 669- Back Into the Oven appeared first on G…

Nothing is as it seems this week because it’s just the two of us - no special guest! We discuss the return of Porcupine Man from “The Transformation” and how we feel about how he is handled. We agree that it isn’t necessarily a highlight episode and we point to a scene especially that seems a bit contrived. We also voice some frustrations about the…

Who do you think of when you think of a highly organized person? Perhaps you’re like me and think of a TV or movie character like Monica Geller or Claire Dunphy. You know who doesn't come to mind? ME! For today's story let's jump into the time machine and go back to the early days of my career at the bookstore. The post SILY 668- Disorganized Progr…

George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” Communication is tricky. On one hand, we are all communicating something, verbal or non-verbal at all times. On the other hand, I think most of us have significant room to grow in this area. I think most communication issues arise not fr…

We hope that you have fearless… auditory passages (?) because we are here to share a short story about love along with frequent feedbacker Eric (or Eric from Pennsylvania as you’d prefer). This was such a fun episode to record especially since we love some aspects of this episode and not so much others. We love that we get some counterbalancing fee…

For most of us, reading the Old Testament is not fun. All of those names and laws are difficult to read and are the reason many who have tried reading the Bible from cover to cover often fail once they get to Leviticus. Those books do serve a purpose, though, and today we’ll explore that. It’s a bit of a deep dive, but because the laws are so misun…

What happens when ordinary people are granted extraordinary glimpses into the darkest corners of reality? Both "The Purple Testament" and "What's in the Box" explore the terrifying burden of unwanted knowledge. The post Visions of the Future appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.…

Thanks to Geoff for sharing his struggles today. Especially for men, I think, it's hard for us to admit we need help and accept that help. That mentality is often detrimental to our wellbeing. Geoff has shown us an example of humility and wisdom in action. The post SILY 665- Monday Mailbag appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcas…

We are joined by Jerame for this episode as we discuss one of the best, most pivotal episodes of Fringe! Join us as we talk about what we love about this episode (especially the fact that we finally, after 75 episodes, find out “who or what” the Observers are) but also a couple of things that have us feeling just a tad frustrated. The post S4E14 Th…

Sometimes we fail to allow grace in our own lives. Once we miss or fail for any reason, we allow those feelings of failure to defeat us causing us to miss more often or quit altogether. It’s important to understand you will miss the mark sometimes. It’s equally important to think about that up front so that you have an understanding and a plan for …

I struggled for a long time about whether or not to share this story with you because I felt like it was a story that was not very common and therefore not very applicable. But then I realized this story is very common. If you peel back the layers a bit here, you realize that the first step was the thoughts in the mind of one or more of the employe…

Join us this week as we talk all about what it means to be a better human being! Pavla and Darrell dive into this episode that has many parallels to the Fringe pilot and "Marionette." We take a look at the developments in the Peter and Olivia relationship, the impact the music has on one particular scene, discuss Walter's behavior toward Peter, and…

As we were raising our kids we knew eventually we'd have to make a decision on cell phones, and it became an issue, a struggle, a battle. For parents today, that battle starts at an even earlier age. It’s a tough battle to traverse, a minefield of dangers with a few benefits sprinkled in. Do those benefits make navigating the dangers worth it? If s…

I would guess that John 3:16 is the most commonly known and quoted Bible verse, but perhaps the passage at the forefront of today’s episode would place second on that list. Today we’re looking at Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” We see this verse thrown out all the time by people when they feel like Christians are judging the…

We are visiting the small Vermont town of Westfield this week along with Missnett and are so excited to be talking about this amazing episode of Fringe and its similarities to The X-Files, Twin Peaks, and horror. We love how the stakes feel so high and how the Olivia of this timeline is finally starting to get her previous memories back, and we sha…

Netflix recently dropped a teaser trailer for Stranger Things Season 5, marking the beginning of the end for Netflix's beloved series. Set in fall 1987, this final season brings the ultimate showdown between Vecna's forces and Hawkins' determined heroes The post TSTP 66- Stranger Things Season 5 Teaser Trailer Breakdown appeared first on Golden Spi…

What happens when reality itself becomes unreliable, and the very fabric of existence begins to unravel before our eyes? This month's trip to the Twilight Zone explores themes of isolation, the unreliability of memory and perception, and the horror of facing a universe where your very being can be called into question, leaving us wondering what def…

In the original Zelda game, Link can earn a new sword, the white sword, once he has expanded his health to five hearts. Once Link has twelve hearts, he is capable of wielding the most powerful sword in the game, the magical sword. In much the same way, as we adventure in our jobs, parenting, relationships, and all facets of life, we should be level…

According to Google AI, a Minimum Viable Product is a stripped-down version of a product or feature designed to be released early and get customer feedback. It focuses on the core functionality necessary to address a key customer need and allow for rapid iteration and learning. Essentially, it's a way to test an idea with the least amount of effort…

We are joined by the GSM Podcasts legend Geoff (xforce11) this week as we discuss this myth-alone episode midway through season 4 - “Making Angels”! We love the interactions between the two Astrids as well as between Foelivia and Walter but also touch upon some minor issues with the writing. The post S4E11 Making Angels appeared first on Golden Spi…

We thought we had set up a college savings plan for each of our kids but we were wrong. The reality was that we'd only receive a fraction of the amount of money that we expected. We’d been scammed. The post SILY 658- Turning Brick Walls into Brick Paths appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More.…

Christian friends, we must remember that political movements are not the main thing. The Jews of Jesus’ time refused to believe he was the Messiah in part because they expected the Messiah to be a political hero that would rescue them from Roman occupation. But Jesus was never here for those man-made systems, or to use a phrase from a recent episod…

We are looking at this episode of Fringe from a forced perspective, but it’s kind of nice that it’s just the two of us for once! Even though this episode is mostly a standalone episode, it’s still a really beautiful episode with a great wraparound. The post S4E10 Forced Perspective appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Tech…

What mysteries lie beneath the waves, and can a journey across the sea bridge the gap between life and death? This month we take a look at two season 4 episodes that proclaim the mystery, intrigue, and uncertainty of the sea. Are you brave enough to dive into two of The Twilight Zone's most haunting maritime tales? The post Call of the Sea appeared…

Thirty six days ago my OKC Thunder won the NBA championship! Watching my city and state grow over the last 30 years has been incredible. When friends visit from out of state I love taking them downtown and letting them experience the great things our city has to offer. So the question I want to consider today is: how did all of this happen? The pos…

Jean-Jacques Rousseau famously said, “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” He’s right. Patience is bitter. As I look back on those times now, I see so much growth that happened in the waiting. Jean-Jacques Rousseau IS right. Not only is patience bitter but its fruit is truly sweet. Those years between buyer and director shaped me and prepar…

We are joined by a friend (or are they an enemy of our enemy?) this episode, Keilly, as we discuss this great episode of Fringe! We discuss the callbacks to previous seasons and episodes that we love; tip our hats to great performances from cast members such as Jared Harris, John Noble, and Orla Brady; and so much more! The post S4E9 Enemy of My En…

Unlike the annoying barn swallows occupying my porch, my son has flown from the nest never to return. He’s spread his wings, experienced the freedom and independence that comes with that stage of life, and he is perfectly content to navigate those waters on his own. He knows full well that we were just a phone call away and less than an hour away i…

Today’s story is pulled from a television episode that aired 25 years ago. However, its claims about the Bible are ones that I still see being used often today, and the very scene has been making the rounds on social media this year, which is why I decided to address it on this podcast. It’s easy to see why the Old Testament laws can be confusing a…

We are going back to where we’ve never been (or have we?) this week as Michael London of Fringe Connections joins us again to discuss this pivotal episode of season 4! We talk about how we have been feeling about this season vs. how we felt back in the day, discuss the references to The Wizard of Oz, Walternate’s shift in character, and much more! …

Can anyone truly outrun time itself, and what dark bargains might immortality demand? This month's episodes lead us to explore the price of immortality and the moral consequences of achieving eternal life through supernatural means as they share themes of time, aging, and the ultimate price paid for attempting to cheat death. The post Fountain of Y…

Thanks to Jeff and Ruthie for sharing their stories. I found both of these stories to be incredibly inspiring and I appreciate each of them being willing to be vulnerable enough to share these raw moments from their lives. These stories represent the true heart of this podcast and the best of what community looks like. The post 652- Monday Mailbag …

In 2017 I received an email from a podcast associate of mine named Shawn. I reached out to Shawn to learn more about the mission and determine how much I could donate to make maximum impact. Shawn was great with answering my questions, but the conversation didn’t go as I expected. Rather than simply taking my money, Shawn repeatedly emphasized that…

Helen joins us all the way from Germany this week to discuss this episode of Fringe. Listen in as we discuss the rich character moments from this episode that we love and how Eugene’s story and conflict parallels both Olivia and Peter. The post S4E7 Wallflower appeared first on Golden Spiral Media- Entertainment Podcasts, Technology Podcasts & More…

You could say that nobody steals Thor’s thunder. He is the god of thunder, after all. But perhaps he’s the only one who is immune to having their thunder stolen. It took me years to see this fault in myself. To be honest, I’m still not convinced I’m capable of realizing that I’ve stolen someone’s thunder until a great deal of time has passed. That …

As we stood there on the shore of San Diego Bay taking in the sights of Comic-Con, Clint looked at me and asked, “Darrell, why do you do all of this?” I took a moment and gave him an answer I wasn’t happy with then and I’m not happy with now. I told him that I enjoyed being around the celebrities and learning about all the new stuff that’s coming o…

We are joined by Erin for this episode as we discuss the episode “And Those We’ve Left Behind,” or, as Darrell calls it, “The Stephen Root Episode.” We talk about why this episode remains so memorable to Fringe fans and how the magic of Stephen Root and Rosy Rosemont being a couple in real life adds to the authenticity of their performances in this…

The Bible has a lot to say about God and his attributes, and it’s easy to understand how some of these passages can be interpreted to paint God into an image similar to that of Oz. But is that accurate? Just as Dorothy and her friends learned the truth about Oz when they pulled back the curtain and had a face to face conversation with him, I think …

What price would you pay to change your appearance, and what happens when the power to transform yourself becomes a curse? This month we look at two epsodes where identity and the consequences of changing one's appearance take center stage. They explore themes of conformity, individuality, and the dangerous allure of being able to become someone el…

Certainly the fact that we have the capacity to think signifies our existence. However, I’ve seen too many people who think they don’t exist because no one seems to notice them or acknowledge them. Honestly, I think deep down all of us need someone to affirm us in some way in order for us to feel like we exist. Thus, “I am thought of, therefore I a…

It’s just us this episode as we take on “Novation,” Peter’s first full episode this season. We reflect on some of the theories that we had back in the day about who was behind the Shapeshifters 2.0 (one of which was surprisingly quite… valid) and how we felt vs. now feel about Peter’s (sort of) return to this timeline. The post S4E5 Novation appear…

I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with people about NMX 2015. Nearly every conversation I have about it includes someone declaring, “That was the best event ever!” Why? Surround yourself with a group of friends that will encourage you, stick with you, help you see your blind spots, and give you that necessary encouragement on those h…

Marriage is not easy. Adding kids into the mix makes it even more challenging. It’s not surprising that between two-thirds and one-half of all marriages in the US end in divorce. This week Kari and I will celebrate 26 years of marriage and we are as happy and as solidly connected as we’ve ever been. Here are what I believe are five key ingredients …

Subject 9 is a pivotal episode of Fringe marking Peter’s return to the timeline… sort of. We are joined once again this week by the awesome Anna (not Torv) and our discussions touch upon some of the new developments about this timeline revealed in this episode such as different relationships between characters like Olivia and Nina and Walter and Ni…

The word gospel simply means good news. For many of us when we hear the word gospel we think of good news that Jesus came and died to pay the penalty for our sin and provide a way to reconcile us with God. That is indeed good news! That is gospel. We often hear gospel messages about Jesus, but we don’t often hear about the gospel message that Jesus…

When the lines are blurred between the animate and inanimate, suspenseful and thrilling things happen within the sandbox of the Twilight Zone. This month we explore "The After Hours" and "The New Exhibit" which present stories with characters whose reality isn't what it seems, leading to shocking revelations about their true nature. The post Come t…